James Patterson cancels Murder of Stephen King novel after real-life threats

The novel focuses on a stalker who re-enacts terrifying moments from his books.

The Murder of Stephen King James Patterson and horror legend Stephen King Image CBS

James Patterson has cancelled the publication of his new book The Murder of Stephen King, after learning of real-life threats made against the horror writer.

The story focuses on a stalker, who distresses King by re-enacting terrifying moments from his novels, The Guardian reports.

The novel, which features “all of Stephen King’s greatest villains, rolled into one”, won’t be published as Patterson does not want to cause King and his family “any discomfort”.

The Murder of Stephen King was due to be published in November, but the release will no longer go ahead, after Patterson learned that “fans of Stephen King have disrupted the King household in the past”.

A description of the book read: “Stephen King is facing a nightmare. A stalker is re-enacting the horrors from his novels. And he won’t stop until he kills the master of suspense himself – unless King puts him out of his Misery first.”